Preparing you for a career in cities
A Master of Engineering Program addressing the various issues and growing needs of busy urban centres
Societal and engineering challenges in the 21st century require engineers to think holistically about the systems we design and build.
The MEngCEM program prepares students to use cross-disciplinary methods to solve the tough challenges that face municipalities.
Cities will face many challenges
Over 50 per cent of the world’s population lives in cities; by 2050, 66 per cent of the world's population is projected to be living in a major urban hub. The health and wealth of nations is dependent on how well these cities function. Global urbanization, climate change, natural resources and sustainability are all factors urban centres must take into account while managing infrastructure and providing services for citizens.
Solving city challenges - what you'll learn:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between the systems and services of a city and its ability to generate prosperity and wealth.
- Improve specific analytic skills to assess the environmental, economic, political, and social risks which will impact policy regarding a city's critical infrastructure.
- Develop specialized management skills and evidence-based techniques that can be applied to address the unique challenges inherent in cities around the world.
Earn your MEngCEM on your schedule
You can enroll in the MEngCEM with the right blend of courses to fit your individual needs.
Complete the degree as a full time student in 12 months, or at an extended-full time pace which enables you to take just one or two courses per term for up to 24 months. Flexible program options allow you to work at the pace that’s best for you.
Full Time
For students who can attend school for full-time study, this option means that students can begin in September or January, and can complete the program in 12 months.
Sample program completion:
- Semester One: 2 core courses, and 2 infrastructure engineering electives courses
- Semester Two: 2 core courses, 1 infrastructure engineering elective course and 1 technology management elective course
- Semester Three: Practicum
Extended Full Time
An option for students who would like additional flexibility in order to complete the program, the extended full-time option means that students can begin in September or January, and can take up to 24 months to complete the program.
Sample program completion:
- Year One: 2 core courses, and 2 infrastructure engineering electives courses
- Year Two: 2 core courses, 1 infrastructure engineering elective course and 1 technology management elective course
- Summer following Year Two: Practicum
Core courses are typically offered once a week during the daytime from Monday to Friday, and a limited number of electives are offered in the evenings. Please see a typical course schedule here
Most courses are delivered in-person on the St. George Campus in downtown Toronto
Program requirements
Core Courses
4 core courses form the base of the program, allowing students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between the systems and services of a city and its ability to generate prosperity and wealth.
Electives & Specialization
Students choose 3 infrastructure engineering electives in one of 8 specialization areas in topics as diverse as Healthcare Management, Social Entrepreneurship, Advanced and Sustainable Water Treatment, and Transportation Demand Analysis. Students also choose 1 technology management elective course.
Practicum
In the 4-month full-time practicum component of the MEngCEM program, students engage with real city challenges, synthesize and apply their knowledge in an integrated way, and work with multidisciplinary teams.
Core Courses
CEM1001
The Challenges of Urban Policy-Making
This course challenges engineers to think about how public policy is made and how it guides the practice of engineering both directly and indirectly. Particular focus is placed on urban policy and urban engineering.
CEM1002
Data Analytics & Cities
This course explores how cities are measured. The strengths and limitations of various measures are examined including issues related the cost of collecting data and the challenges in ensuring its integrity. Metrics of interest include those related to city services, public health and well-being, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality.
CEM1003
Infrastructure and Urban Prosperity
The course explores the evolution of great cities over time, looking at form and function to understand urban economic growth and accumulation of wealth. Using current and historical examples of urban development, the implications of infrastructure planning and management on the health/wealth of cities is examined.
CEM1004
Cities as Complex Systems
Cities are "problems in organized complexity" (Jacobs, 1961). This course will explore this theme and its implications for city engineering and management in terms of: introduction to complex systems theory; exploration of cities as systems (physical, economic, social, etc.); holistic and reductionist approaches to 'a science of cities'; approaches to city planning and design in the face of complexity; challenges to sustainable design; and decision-making under uncertainty.
Infrastructure Engineering Specializations
Students choose 3 electives from one of these 8 specializations.
Technology Management Electives
Students choose 1 elective from this list
Further Customize your Degree
Students may consider an additional emphasis offered by the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.
During their full-time practicum, MEngCEM students engage with real city challenges, synthesize and apply their knowledge in an integrated way, and work with multidisciplinary teams.
The practicum requirement may be satisfied via placements in companies, governments, NGOs and academic research positions with a professor, either paid or volunteer.
Previous Practicum Placements
The People
Students
Our students come from varied and diverse backgrounds. Their bachelor level studies have been in areas such as:
- Civil Engineering
- Transportation Engineering
- Urban Planning
- Environmental Engineering
- Architecture
- Business
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Engineering & Management
- Environmental Science
- Geological Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Transportation planning
Alumni
Our graduates have gone on from their studies and are now working in companies and organizations like:
- City of Toronto
- Ontario Ministry of Transportation
- Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
- Toronto Transit Commission
- EllisDon
- Defence Construction Canada
- Deloitte Canada
- DIALOG
- Dormer Homes
- Emaar, The Economic City;
- HDR
- Highways and Public Works, Yukon
- IBI Group
- Metrolinx
- Navigant Consulting Energy Practice
- Hatch
- Ontario Power Generation
- Paradigm Transportation Solutions
- WSP
Faculty & Instructors
Our courses are taught by faculty and instructors who are leaders in their fields. They are currently working in or conducting research related to cities.
Prof. Mark Fox is a Distinguished Professor of Urban Systems Engineering in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
Nikolaos Kalyviotis is a postdoctoral fellow in infrastructure life cycle assessment and in the modelling of the greenhouse gas emissions generation
Melanie Lalani is a Senior Business Analyst with Health Canada
Prof. Eric Miller is an expert in the field of transportation planning, systems analysis and modelling. He is the Director of the University of Toronto Transportation Research Institute (UTTRI)
Prof. Shoshanna Saxe investigates the relationship between the infrastructure we build and the society we create, with a particular focus on environmental sustainability